United Spinal News: May 2015


CRT Bill Reintroduced in the House

On Mar. 19, Congressmen Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) and Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) joined in a bipartisan reintroduction of the “Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act.” The new bill number is HR-1516 and it retains the same language as the last year’s bill with some minor changes.

“As a leader in the fight for the rights of the disabled, I want to ensure all Americans have access to the tools needed to live each day to the fullest,” said Sensenbrenner. “Americans with disabilities should not be denied rehabilitation or medical equipment that can enable them to live and work freely and independently. With increased flexibility and proper oversight, we can help those in need while inhibiting fraud and abuse.”

Congressman Crowley added, “Complex rehabilitation technology products can make a world of difference for people with severe disabilities and other medical conditions, and our legislation will remove barriers to getting these wheelchairs and other services to those who need them to lead a more independent life. I look forward to advancing this legislation that recognizes the importance of maintaining access to these products, as well as puts in place much-needed quality standards and consumer protections that strengthen the Medicare program for individuals, clinicians and suppliers.”

The Muscular Dystrophy Association has officially pledged their support for the CRT legislation. The Association will be mobilizing its membership to reach out to Congress to push for passage. MDA joins the list of over 50 national consumer and medical professional organizations supporting the CRT bills.

On the Senate side, Senators Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are expected to reintroduce the Senate companion bill shortly as of press time.

Congressman Joe Crowley (center, back row), a strong supporter, visited United Spinal’s new offices.
Congressman Joe Crowley (center, back row), a strong supporter, visited United Spinal’s new offices.

Crowley Visits United Spinal

A week before he reintroduced the “Ensuring Access to Quality Complex Rehabilitation Technology Act,” Congressman Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) visited the new United Spinal offices in Kew Gardens. Crowley, the vice chair of the Democratic Caucus in the House of Representatives, represents the district where United Spinal’s old office was located. He made a special out-of-district visit to the new offices. He discussed the current state of the Affordable Care Act, the potential impact of a looming Supreme Court ruling and the importance of complex rehab technology. Alex Bennewith, United Spinal’s vice president, government relations, said the visit was a sign of the congressman’s commitment to the SCI/D community and of the strong ties he had built with the organization.

“We have been fighting hard through 2015 to get the CRT bill reintroduced and we wanted Rep. Crowley to meet us in his home state in our New York offices to talk about next steps of getting the bill reintroduced for the new Congressional session in 2015,” she said. “It was important for him to meet our staff and some of our board members in person so he could understand what access to the right wheelchairs means to our members.”

Steve Laux, Dominic Marinelli and Shawn Dean are working to ensure the new Minnesota Vikings stadium is accessible.
Steve Laux, Dominic Marinelli and Shawn Dean are working to ensure the new Minnesota Vikings stadium is accessible.

Planning Access in Minnesota

Members from the Minnesota chapter met with representatives of United Spinal’s Accessibility Services team and the Minneapolis Multi-Purpose Stadium Access Advisory Committee on March 5 in Minneapolis to discuss plans for the future Minnesota Vikings stadium. Accessibility Services is working with architects and the city to ensure the future stadium meets all the needs of people with disabilities. As part of that planning, Dominic Marinelli, the head of ACS, suggested the creation of a committee composed of stakeholders from the disability community, the city and the project. Steve Laux and Shawn Dean, the president and vice president of the Minnesota chapter also attended the meeting. “We were honored and appreciative of Dom’s invite to represent the interests of Minnesotans with disabilities,” said Laux. “We are pleased that the Vikings organization supports this mission and have been proactive in establishing a venue that will welcome all fans. We left with confidence that the Vikings new home will set the bar high in terms of accessibility.”

Mayor’s Challenge

Nearly 200 cities across the country are participating in the year-long US Department of Transportation’s Mayor’s Challenge for Safer People, Safer Streets. In March, participants came together in Washington, D.C., to share best practices and support one another, committing to address the seven challenges raised by the secretary of transportation. The second challenge urges cities to identify and address barriers to all, including wheelchair users. Participating cities are urged to work with stakeholders. If you are interested in working with your city to meet the challenge, contact your mayor’s office or local transportation department to find out how you can help. The US DOT Mayor’s Challenge website provides an up-to-date list of participating cities, as well as questions and answers about the challenge (www.dot.gov/mayors-challenge). The list of participating cities is here: www.dot.gov/policy-initiatives/ped-bike-safety/mayors-challenge-city-list.

Alena LeBron and Megan Duffy pose on the “orange carpet” at ReelAbilities.
Alena LeBron and Megan Duffy pose on the “orange carpet” at ReelAbilities.

United Goes to the Movies

The 7th Annual ReelAbilities: NY Disabilities Film Festival took over theaters around New York City for the week of March 11-18 to showcase 25 films focusing on disabilities. United Spinal helped sponsor the event and hosted a screening and pre-showing panel for “Endless Abilities,” a documentary about four best friends who traversed the United States in search of adaptive sports. James Weisman, United Spinal’s legal counsel, introduced the movie. The screening was followed by a panel that talked about the filmmakers, the cast and the restorative power of adaptive sports. “If you see this movie you will see that there is real, meaningful life that includes athletic competition after injury,” said Weisman. “Everybody in that theater was moved by this movie.”


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